Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Where Jesus Shops

When I was back in my hometown recently, I noticed some places that had changed, and some that hadn't. If you ever leave your hometown and go back after a while, or don't pay attention for a while when you do, you'll suddenly see things that aren't like they used to be.

The highway in front of my parent's house is now a four-lane. In order for the state to turn it into a four lane, they had to add three lanes. Now, it wasn't a one-lane road. It was a two-lane U.S. Highway. But, not that they've expanded it, there are two lanes in each direction, plus a center turning lane. So, it's five lanes wide, but only four are for driving.

Now, I don't know about there, since I don't drive there much, not being there much, but here, there are lots of four-lane roads with a center turning lane. Only, some folks think it's an on-ramp. They'll be on some side road and pull out into the turning lane and drive along there for a while until they decide they're ready to move over one lane right into the left lane. Think about that for a second: They have to shift to the right to be in the left lane. That sentence alone tells you what they're doing just ain't right. But some folks were dropped on their head as a child, or something happened to them, because they drive like that. I see lots driving like who have handicapped tags on the vehicle. I know how they got that way.

Anyway, they've four-laned the highway heading into my hometown. At least the one from the East. Which is North. Don't ask. Okay, I'll tell you. It's an odd-numbered U.S. Highway. Those run North-South. Even-numbered U.S. Highways run East-West. Only, the think is, if you stand out beside the road, and look to the highway-north at sunset, you'll see the sun setting. So, the north-bound traffic runs west. Hey, I neither numbered the highway or laid any of the asphalt. I'm just calling it as I see it. Anyway, it's a four-lane highway.

There has been lots of highway construction around that town over the last few years. They tore down a Hardee's and built a new one. They put up a Super Wal-Mart. Tore down McDonald's and put up a new one that has gas pumps. So, you can go to McDonald's and get gas. And fuel.

But not everything has changed. There's one place that's still there, although who knows when that may change. This place is a little fabrics store. It also used to sell (it still might) groceries. It was actually two stores, but it was really one. Run by the same family. Owned by the same family. That kind of thing. And they shared a common flashing sign out front.

The old lady who ran things was, at least during the time I knew here, a religious sort. She went to the Church of God. Now, being a small South Georgia town, there is more than one church that is of that particular denomination. There are lots of them. If you're in a town like that, everyone you meet is either Baptist, Methodist, or Church of God. Well, there are a few others thrown in. But they probably moved there recently. Like in the last 50-60 years.

Anyway, this lady was a big supporter in her church. And she always put something on the sign our front like "Jesus Saves." The thing was, they were also putting things on the sign about the special on fabric, or what milk was selling for. So, you'd see something like "JESUS SAVES! ALL FABRIC 1/3 OFF!" or perhaps "JESUS SAVES! MILK $1.79" or the like. So, we figured that's where Jesus shopped.

I never saw a fellow with a long robe, long hair, and a beard in the place, but if you spoke to the folks there, you knew Jesus was there.


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7 comments:

  1. Hi Basil,
    Love your site -- particularly the headlines. Vocation forced me to comment under the Jesus post. :)
    As they say, "Jesus Saves, Moses Invests, Mohammed Plunders."
    Keep up the good work!

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  2. So, you can go to McDonald's and get gas. And fuel.
    Well, basil, i knew about the first, but here in rural CA there's no such thing as a fast food restaurant that sells gasoline. i don't know if such a thing actually exists, but i'm willing to accept testimony from people from other parts of the country that are less backwards than my corner of the world!

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  3. Hey, I ain't making this stuff up. See the "About this blog" link on the right.

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  4. Big Sis (who's only 5'4")January 20, 2005 at 2:54 AM

    Jesus Saves! Porkchops $1.19
    was always my favorite.
    I haven't seen the sign in a while, so I wonder if the shop either moved or closed down. The Mean Sister will have to let us know since she still lives there.

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  5. Here in Indiana we can buy gas and get Wendy's or Taco Bell...civilization is wonderful!

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  6. Fr Joseph Huneycutt:
    Thank you for the kind words. I hope your vists here don't lead you astray. Us Baptists will do that, you know.

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  7. The Mean Sister (who is 5'6")January 20, 2005 at 10:45 AM

    Jesus saves a lot of things, but He did not save the grocery store. It became a bakery, but the bakery moved to the Italian restaurant which closed down.

    ReplyDelete

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